A reflection on Matthew 10:5–8
I recently read a post on Facebook commenting on Jesus’ first commision to his disciples as he sent them to exclusively Jewish villages to preach the Good News that the Kingdom of God was at hand. (I’d like to credit the poster, but seem to have lost the reference). But it spoke to me since I often have the privilege of dismissing our congregation in a benediction. I will often exhort us to go out with grace, peace, and power through the Holy Spirit to a world that is heedless and careless, yet infinitely in need of God’s grace.
Jesus’ commissioning of the twelve disciples in Matthew 10:5–8 is more than an instruction manual for itinerant ministry. While modern translations offer a clearer rendering of Jesus’ words, a deeper look into the original Greek reveals additional, richer shades of meaning. In four short imperatives, Jesus lays out what the work of the Kingdom truly entails, calling His followers to restore, raise, embrace, and liberate.
Therapeuete tous asthenountas – “Heal the sick.” This might sound at first like a call for physicians or miracle workers. But the Greek word asthenountas paints a much broader picture. It refers not only to those who are physically ill, but also to the weak, the feeble, and the broken—those who are exhausted by life’s burdens, weary from loss, paralyzed by anxiety, or burdened by shame. This command isn’t restricted to the hospital bed or clinic; it reaches into offices, classrooms, street corners, and pews. To “heal the sick” means to minister strength to the weary, to bind up invisible wounds, and to walk with those whose souls have been hollowed out by grief, betrayal, or burnout. It is to see the brokenness beneath the surface and to touch it not with pity, but with presence and hope. When we encourage the discouraged, support the fainthearted, and offer patient love to those who feel they have no worth left, we are participating in Christ’s healing mission.
Egeirete nekrous – “Raise the dead.” At first glance, this seems like the realm of divine miracles alone. But nekrous in Greek speaks to more than physical corpses—it refers to what has become lifeless or non-functioning. A marriage that’s grown cold. A vocation that’s lost its meaning. A passion that once burned brightly but has long since been snuffed out by disappointment. Faith that has slipped into numb routine. The call to “raise the dead” means that we are to awaken what has fallen into lifelessness. We are to be agents of resurrection—not always in grand, public miracles, but often in quiet moments of restoration: a word of encouragement, a reminder that failure doesn’t mean finality, a listening ear that breathes new life into someone’s fading hope. Jesus entrusts us with the ministry of renewal, not just of bodies, but of hearts, dreams, and communities.
Katharizete leprous – “Cleanse lepers.” Lepers in Jesus’ time were not only ill—they were outcasts. Declared ritually unclean, they were cut off from family, worship, and human contact. The Greek word lepros applies to anything considered contaminated or disgraceful. Jesus’ command to “cleanse lepers” is a directive to move toward the rejected and restore their dignity. In today’s world, lepers wear different faces: the addict, the formerly incarcerated, the mentally ill, the socially awkward, the homeless, the shamed. Society often hides these people away or ignores them altogether. But Jesus calls us to do the opposite. We are to move toward the outcast, not away. To dignify, not to dismiss. To offer the cleansing touch of acceptance, love, and belonging. In doing so, we help erase shame and reintroduce worth.
Ekballate daimonia – “Cast out demons.” The word daimonia doesn’t always refer to literal spirits; it includes every force that enslaves a person from within. Lies that distort identity. Addictions that consume. Fears that paralyze. Anger, hatred, depression, pride—these too can be demonic in their grip. To cast out demons is to step into the battle for a person’s soul and speak truth where lies have taken root. It means confronting injustice, praying for deliverance, and reminding people of who they are in Christ. This kind of work requires discernment, compassion, and courage. It’s not about being sensational; it’s about being faithful. To set others free, we ourselves must be free in Christ.
Each of these four imperatives—heal, raise, cleanse, cast out—shapes the contours of Christian mission. They are not optional. They are the natural outworking of those who have freely received grace, peace, and love from Jesus and are now commissioned to give freely in return (Matthew 10:8).
The benediction spoken at the close of a worship service is not merely a farewell—it is a sending. We are not dismissed from worship; we are deployed from it. Into a world filled with brokenness, dead dreams, shame, and bondage, Jesus sends us as His witnesses—armed with His authority, filled with His Spirit, and walking in His love.
This is the mission. Let us take it seriously. Let us take it personally. Let us take it everywhere.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study